Apparatus for conveying from the working face in mines



Ndv. 11, 1930. WELSH ET AL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING FROM THE WORKING FACE INMINES Filed Aug. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11, 1930. A. WELSH ET AL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING FROM THE WORKING FACE IN MINES Filed Aug. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 11, 1930. A 'WE| $H ET AL 1,781,.259

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING FROM THE WORKING FACE IN MINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FilQd Aug. 13, 1928 NOV. 11, 1930. WELSH ET AL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING FROM THE WORKING FACE IN MINES Filed'Aug. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-She 4 Nov. 11, 1930. WELSH ET AL 1,781,259

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING FROM THE WORKING FACE INMINES Filed Aug. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED stares N. i x

ARTHUR wnrsir Ann GEORGE RAW, oE r-w-wAsHrn-eron;EN LA APrA'RA'r s roaconvnvine neon rrza woitxinernonmivrmns j Applicationfiled August 13, 1928, Serial 299,349, and in Great Britain August 15, 1927.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to apparatus for conveying from the working face in mines and is particularly concerned with conveyors of the kind in which the cars or tubs are drawn in a train from the coal face on ma bridge in a heading, cutting or roadway and there emptied of their contents, into cars or truclrsbeneath or within the bridge, by sliding displacement of the bottoms of the tubs by the haulage gear after automatic releasethereof.

Accordingto' the present invention, slidable bottom'plates of a train of cars or tubs are flexibly connected with one another by rectangular open-frame couplings connected by vertical pivots at each end with the respective bottom plates. The first car is suitably fitted with a'releasable catch device of improved form which as the train comes to a standstill against a stop or stops on the bridge is operated to release the bottom plates so that the latter slide forward in the known manner under the action of the haulage gear. Thecouplings not only present a clear opening through which the coal readily discharges from the tubs when the bottom plates are thus released and drawn forward by the haulage gear but in addition they are readily slidable with the bottom plates and present no parts likely to foul the track and interfere with the efficient operation of the conveyor. The tubs themselves are suitably connected by couplings comprising vertical pivot portions at each end, adapted to engage revolubly in holes or slots of the tub frames or bodies, and a central portion comprising a bar having horizontal or are-broughtintothe rearvof one or more of the wheels of the first'car to hold the train of cars against return movement until the bottoms have been replaced by reverse operation of the haulage gear after underloading.

The. haulage gear may be of any suitable which the slidable bottomsof the cars.

form. However," in order to adapt it for convenient use in cases where a plurality of trains is'used, it is advantageous to provide individual tailing ropes for the respective trains and to usea haulage engine with a separate winding drum for each tailing rope, so as to avoid changing-over ofthe tailing ropes or cables. It is also of advantage to arrange for the trains automatically to change over the points of their respective trackbranches in passing to the bridge so asto set the points for the return-of the trains to the same track branches after emptying aswill be hereinafter described.

ily understood reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a suitableconstructionof mine conveyor n accordance with these'lmprove'ments, and in Figure l is a plan of-part of amine workmg showlng the'position of the bridge or loading station relatively to the coal'face and trains at the coal face.

Figure 2 'is an elevation of the heading seen inFigure 1. V p v -Figure 3 is aside elevation to alarger scale of a portion of the loader or bridge with part of a train thereon.

F'gure 4: is a detached plan View, to a larger scale than Figure 3',- ofthe bottom of the first car of a train andpart of the bottom of the second car, with coupling between them.

- Figure 5 is a sideelevation of Figure 4 Figure 6 is an end elevation of one of the cars or tubs on a larger scale than Figure 3. Figure 7 shows" in' elevation on .a' still larger scale, the releasable catch device for Figure 8 isa sideelevationof :a coupling for the carsor tubs. r v

Figure 9 is a plan of Figure 8 with the securing nuts omitted, and

Figure 10 is a view illustrating the stop devices for arresting the cars against reverse movement until their bottoms have been replaced after unloading.

track in the heading A, and. D the conveyor track comprising branches running along the working in front of the coal face B. The conveyor illustrated comprises two trains Fl of carsor tubs andthere is an iron frame-work HF constituting a bridge. or loader anda suit able haulage .mechanism hereinafter dey scribed of "a horse-power dependent upon the size and number of tubs required on each train; The two-way turn G of the conveyor track is shown'in direct line with the loading station .at It connects the; right and left hand branches of'the track with a common branch passingto the bridge and enables one train oftubsor cars to be loaded while the" V-other train; being emptied. C showsa swerve'of the. ordinary mine track C which I passes throu -h an 0 enin 'F inthe brid e e P g e to allowrlargefcarsor tubs (not shown): to

pass either to the-bridgefor loading or from the bridge after-loading. These large tubs "stand-inside or'beneath' the bridge to be filled 'andthe trains E are drawn on to the top of r 1 thebridgefo-r discharge of their contents into "be readily'unders'tood.

the larger cars or'tubs beneath as willbe deg'scribed' V The points or switch Gf at the double turn G are adapted'tobe changed over 7 automatically'by'each' loaded train as it comes out t'o theloading station'Fto be emptied so that the points will besetlreadv for the returnof the'train to the saine track branch and thus to thesame side ofthe coal face B after emptyin'g;- The points'may, for example, be

freely pivoted and moved by the tubv wheels as they pass out to the loading station as will The haulage gear suitably consists" of a --hauling engine mounted on t-he 'bridge or loader F at the pointI-L The engine itself is not shown in thefdrawin'gs as its only characteristic feature is that it comprises three windingdrums which are shown diagrammatlcally at a, a, 0 These drums are mounted on" a singleshaft and controlled by clutches and leversiin any suitable or known manner 'which' will' be understood 'bythose skilled in the art Without illustration. The

V I middle drum (1 carries a'main rope 0 which is used foriidrawing the loaded trains from the coalface to the loading station F and also withdraws the sliding bottoms of the tubs as will bedescribed. The left and'right-hand' drums dflfa carry" tail ropes d 7 a? whichdraw V the sliding bottoms back. and taketheempty ft'ached "from 'atrain when the latterreaches therequiredposition on itsreturn to the trains back from the bridge to the coal face. I The tail ropes '0", '0? are attached to the rear tub of the respective trains andare not de-.

tached therefrom." The main rope 0- is def coal face and is then attached to the other train toenablethat to. be taken to the bridge foneinptying; The haulage ropes pass over suitable drums; wheels or rollers j at suitable pointslof the track for guiding purposes.

In Figure 3,1 conveyor tubs or cars of a train are seen at b on the bridge F and the winding drum or drums of the haulage en'- toms of the cars are in the form of separate and 'slidably mounted in guides 7, Figures 'gine are represented by a,a"-, a The botw plates at connected together by couplings e i 3 and 6, in the frameor sides "of the tub sf i I). From Figures fl and 5 it will beseen that the bottoms dare of substantially rectangular form and that-theco'uplings eyconsist of n I 1 an open rectangular j frame constituted by transverse end members" g'oflshallow U form,

joined by longitudinal sidelinksf h; The latter are pivotally secured pinidouble'eyes of'the end membersg-by means of horizon- 'tal cotter bolts '1 and the end members have central pivotal connectionywith: the bottom platesd by vertical cotter bolts at m; .The

members: 9 as shown :are slipped in between the under surface of the bottom plates and brackets d thereon. The rectangular opening in the couplings 0 is fordischarge of coal and it .is made as nearly as vpossible as wide as the bottoms of thegtubsf and about as long as the distance betweenl adjacent bottom opening as'the bottoms slide forward on the emptying of the cars as hereinafterdescribed.

The-transverse members 9 ofqthe couplings e are set down or cranked atjeachend 'asat v plates, sothat it presents, a large unobstructed z' 'zto allow lthem to pass beneath -thef*guides V cally in suitable brackets '01). This rod nor} mally locksthe bottomplates d of the car against slidingmovement-but can be released by a forwardly extending'striker lever g as willbe described ,As-i shownalsoby Figure 7, the lever 'Q-isa bent two-armedlever pivot} ally mounted at. r in the bracket '0 It has connection by pin sand slot t at its rear end,

with the upper end of. the rod mup'o'nwhich a helical spring u is, placed, {between the 7 bracket 0 and a collar 2; adjustablymounted 'on the rod, fornormallymaintaining the lower end of the rod n inengagement with a hole or slot w in theforwa'rd' end oflthe bottom plate a ofthe first'jcar, see also Figure" 4. The forwardly extending free or striker end of the lever 'q-isdirected down wardly-and lies in thepath Of asto'pjm on" i the bridge (Figure 3') 'andwhen it" engages such stop the locking rod'gnis'released'from i V the holesw againsttheiaction of the spring a whereupon-the bottom plates can slide .forwardly as will bede'scribed. [Adjustment of the position oftheiouter endof the leverg to suit requirements is possible by altering the position of'the collar o on the locking rm i rod" means of-the screw. o";1 The bottom' upperone of the plates y may be recessed as shown at y in Figure i. Jbviously arrangen ent may be made for the use of more than one such locking rod, if required.

In order to effect the forward sliding movement of the botto nplates of the cars; the main haulage cable c-leading from the winding' drum a is attachedto a haulage connection device such as a shackle and hook 2 at the forward end of the bottom plate ofthe first tub, see "Figures 3' to 5. QThis bottom plate has a shallow V slot 1 for attachment of the shackle and hook by the pivotQ. Pref- .erably the plate is reinforced about the slot by the plate 1*. The pivot pin 2 maybe fitted with a roller 2 and it will be seen that the slot 1 readily allows, of slight movement of theshackle to either side the cars are turninga bend, while retaining the shackle centrally on straight parts of the track C. A similarconnection for the tail cablec" or may also be used at the rear end of. the bottom plate of the last tubaswill be under.- stood without further illustration. The ceuplings e between the bottom plates ofthe various tubs of the train allow of anydesired fiei-i'ibility in the train of plates. p

The couplings between'thetubs themselves suitable take the form h wn; in Figuresfl, 8 and 9. This comprises end membersfi', l with vertical pivot parts 5, 6 respectivelyfor engaging holes or slots inbrackets 71 on the tub bodies or frames, anda. horizontal bar 8 hingedly connected between the endp'arts 3, l by li oriz ontal' pivots. One swivel me nher 3 is straight withfa double eye at one end within which the horizontal bar Sgis secured by rivet 8 to form a hinge. The part t is in the form of an L witha double eye formed at the end of the foot forattachment lofthe other end of the horizontal bar 8 by a cotter bolt 9, this arrangement being convenient for coupling and uncoupling the bodies of the tubs when required. The pivots 5, 6 terminate at the extreme upper end in threaded parts for application of nuts 10 for securing the couplings in thetubjbrackets 7. These couplings, as will be und i stood, will maintain. the desired clistanc ed-ietw-een the tubs while allowing of flexib ity in rounding curves and the slight fleXibi'lityi-equired to acco modat to. .unevannesseso the track.

Fo i ar sting. the I ai tub he hauled from the working face, stops such as. 11

are providedgon'the bri'dge'Fr: These steps are "conveniently formed by thedownwardly bent terniinalflparts. of runnersfll2 arranged al'ong ea'ch side 'of'the track-,1), on the bridge and into which the tub wheels b run as the tubs come on to the bridge. The forwardwheels of the first tub engage the stops, which are advantageously reinforced by triangular brackets or gussets 13. Immediately beneath the stop brackets 13-other brackets such as 14 are arrangedon the framework of the bridge on each side of the track to support stop devices for preventing rearwardmovement-of.

the tubs until the desired time. These stop devices suitably consist of two-armed levers 15 (Figures 3'and 10') mounted in the brackets 14 and provided with"upwardly projecting stops 16 on the rear arms and rolls 17 at the ends of'the forward armswhich incline upwardly and forwardly. Normally, the rolls on the levers lie in the path of slidingmovement of the bottom platesd of thetubs and the stops 16 below the level of thefltrack surface to the rear of the front wheels of the first tub as shoW'nby-Figure 3; Part of the roll and lever is broken away in Figure 3 to illustrate parts behind. 1

For receiving and supporting the bottom plate of the first tub, and preventing it from lifting when it is drawn out,'guides 19-. may be-mounted on the bridge F,"Fig'ure 3-, and stops 20 are provided to determine the amount of forward, movement. Movement of thebottom plates-into their guides f and 19 is facilitated by lip formations 21 thereof shown in 5 Figure 3.

In operation, the main haulage rope c isattached to the hook eofua filled train and the hauling engine started to draw thistrain to the bridge F by operation of the central drum or. Asthe train passes roundthe bend at Gr (Figure 1), its wheels'automatically switch over the points at G andjthe train passes thence to the bridge for unloading. On reaehingthe bridge the wheels of the tubs pass into the runners"12 (Figure3) "and r the train will come to a standstill when the front wheels of the first tub engage the stops 11; Just at this time, the striker lever g of the locking rod 91 on the first tub willa-lso I meet its stop at and lift the locking rodagainst tub and itwill be seen thatwhilethe'plate 1 of the first tub enters the guides 19',-plates to the rear ofthis one enter the guides f-of the respective cars in front. "As the bottom platesd slide forward, the first plate engages the rolls 17 on the l'e'vers15 and thus the retaining stops 16 are" moved upwardly into the path of the frontwheels ef thattub, this position being seen in Figure10. Further, as the bottom plates of tlre tubs slide along, thecouplings e between the plateswill I pass beneath'the respective tubs in front and I the coal inthe tub's will discharge through 7 the rectangular openings 'inthese coupling membersand into; large tubs or trucks which 4 would be within the bridge. The openings in the coupling imemb'er's, being unobstructed,

allow ready discharge'of coal lwhich takes place from each tub from the rear forward- I ly. -After,-dischargeof the: tubs, the haulage mg lIIjIQVQlSB direction to themanner in which the drum a-was operatedrso asto wind the tail rope a, or f and return the empty train to thecoal face. As soon ast-he reverse 7 winding starts, the bottom plates cl of thetubs of theltrain begin to return to their original position, but movement of the tubs is, as yet,

prevented by the stops16.- However, .imme

- .dia'tely theibottom' of the first tub is past the i --rolls 17 ,jthestops 16 drop clear of the wheels f of thattub' and allow the train to move back- Wards ,theplate of theelast car havingicome against a stop. By now the hole orslot w in the foremostbottom plate is in position again to receive the locking rodn, Therefore," when the backward movement commences, thelever g. is released andlthe spring presses the locking rod into the hole'or slot w.- Thetrain of carsis then drawn back again to the coal face for reloading and as the train, in passing to thefbridge, switches over the points at G, the trainwill return to the same .side of the coal fa ce as it came from, Thezother gtrain' now, loaded, "can be drawn to the-bridgefor emptying, by,shift :ing the main haulage rope 0 to that train and Y [repeating the operations'above described,

-and'so on, each train-in turn setting the points .at- G for return of the trains to their appropriate sides of the coalface as will be readily understood; In all the movements of the v carsortubs thecouplings aforesaid give the [required flexibility and it will be seen that they comprise no loosely hanging parts likely tofou l the trackjor other fixtures or to in- 5 terfere with thesliding otitheibottom plates,

1.' :-Mine conveyor comprising a trainio't tubs with slidable bottom plates, rectangular "open frame couplings secured by vertical pivots at each end to respective jbottom plates, and means on ithe train of tubs co-operative with means at a bridge in the mine 1 iornreleasing said-bottom plates when the V fytrain reaches t the-bridge.

I 2. Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, rectangular open-framegcouplings for the bottom 7 plates comprising separate side andend membersconnected by horizontal pivots at the joints between them and the end mem- 3. Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, rectangular open-frame couplingshsecured by vertical pivots at each end t'orespective bottomplates and set down at the sides vto-clear guides on v the tubs for the plates, and means on the :7

train of tubs co-operativeiwith means at a J bridge in theminefor releasing said bottomplates when the train reaches the bridge.

4. Mine conveyor comprising a train of,

tubs with slidable bottom plates', means for on the first tub forlocking the bottom plates against sliding movement, and aforwardly f extending striker lever connected with said catch deviceand co-operative with means at coupling said plates together, a catch device a bridge in "the mine'for releasingsuchcat'ch and allowingthe, bottom plates to slide when p v the train of tubs reaches the bridge I 5. :Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for couplin said plates together, a catch device on the rst tub for locking the'bottom plates against sliding movement, a forwardly and T downwardly ext,ending-' striker lever connected with said catch, abridge, in the mine where the tubs are emptied and a stop on the bridge disposed in the path o f said striker lever substantially 'a sand rforr'the purpose setforthif i 1 6. Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for coupling saidfplates, together, a yieldable catch bolt on the first tub for locking the bottomplates 'against sliding movement, a

forwardly extending striker lever connected with saidbolt and co-operative with means at a bridgein the 'minegfor releasing such bolt andallowing the' bottom plates to slide when the train of tubs reaches the bridge, and a'collar adjustable on the catch bolt for stantially as and for-the purpose set'forth. '7. Mine conveyor comprising .a series of tubs with slidable bottom plates,.couplings vfor said tubs comprising end members'vertically pivotedto the tubs and an intermediate bar member hinged horizontally tothe end members, couplings for said bottom plates and means on one of the tubs co -operative with means at a bridge in the mine for releasing said bottom plates when the train of tubs reachesthe bridge substantially as set forth."

8. Mine conveyor in accordance with claim 7, in which one of the end members'jof the adjustable setting of the striker lever subtub couplings is 'ofL form andthe bar mem ber is pivotally connected to such end mem ber atthe end of the, foot of the L part substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, meansfOr coupling said plates together, means on the train-of tubs co -operativewith" means at' aV- br e i h m e rf tr e ei s d fb te plates to empty the tubs when the train reaches the bridge and a stop operated by the bottom plates in sliding for the purpose of holding the train against return movement after discharging until the bottom plates have been replaced substantially as set forth.

10. Mine conveyor comprising a train of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for coupling said plates together, haulage gear having the haulage rope connected with the bottom plates by V slot in the latter and means on the train of tubs co-operative with means at a bridge in the mine for releasing said bottom plates when the train reaches the bridge so that they are drawn forward by the haulage gear substantially asset forth.

11. Mineconveyor comprising a train'of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for coupling the bottom plates together, haulage gearconnectible with such plates, means on the train of tubs co-operative with means at a bridge in the mine for releasing said bottom plates when the train reaches the bridge so that they are drawn forward by the haulage gear, and guideson the bridge for receiving the bottom plate of the first tub of the train when the bottom plates are so drawn forward substantially as set forth.

12. A mine conveyor arrangement comprising in combination a pluralityof trains of tubs, with slidable bottom plates, rectangular open-frame couplings for connecting the bottom plates together in respective trains, a bridge in the mine, haulage gear mounted on the bridge, a stop for arresting the trains on the bridge, a catch bolt on the first tub of each train for locking the bottom plates of that train, a downwardly and forwardly extending striker lever connected with said catch bolt, a second stop. on the bridge for engaging said striker lever when the trains are drawn on to the bridge against the first-mentioned stop, thus releasing said bottom plates so that they are drawn forward by the haulage gear, means on the bridge, and operated by said plates as they move forward, for holding the trains against return movement from the bridge, until such bottom plates are replaced, and conveyor track comprising branches of which the points are adapted to be switched over by the respective trains in passing tothe bridge substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

a 13. A mine conveyor arrangement comprising in combination a. plurality of trains of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for coupling the bottom plates together in respective trains, conveyor track comprising a plurality of branches for the separate trains, a bridge in the mine, main haulage and individual tail ropes for the trains, a hauling engine mounted on said bridge and comprising a winding drum for main haulfirst tub of each traincfor locking the bottom plates of that train, a striker lever connected with said catch device, and a 'stopat the bridge for engaging said striker lever when the trains are drawn on to the bridge thus releasing said bottom plates so that they are drawn forward by the mainhaulage, said catch device re-locking the bottom plates when the latter are drawn reversely by the respective tailing rope and winding drum prior to return of the trains from said bridge substantially as set forth. I

14:. A mine conveyor arrangement comprising in combination a plurality of trains'of tubs with slidable bottom plates, means for coupling the bottom plates together in respective trains, a bridge in the mine, haul-' gear mounted on the bridge, a catch device on the first tub of each train forlocking the bottom plates of that train, a striker lever connected with said catch device, a stop at the bridge for engaging said striker lever when the trains are drawn on to the bridge, thus releasing said bottom plates so that they are drawn forward by the haulage gear, and conveyor track comprising branches of which the points are adapted to be switched over by the respective trains in passing to the bridge substantially as set forth.

ARTHUR WELSH. GEORGE RAW.

age and individual winding drums for the] I respective tail ropes, a catch device on the 

